Beauchamp tower



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. V B. TOWER. APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING THE CONSTANT PLANE IN A FLOATING VESSEL.

Patented'July 12 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. B. TOWER. APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING THE CONSTANT PLANE IN A FLOATING VESSEL.

Patented July 12, 1887.

UNITED STATES BEAUGHAMP TOWER, OF WESTMINSTER, COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND.

PATENT OFFIC APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING THE CONSTANT PLANE IN A FLOATING VESSEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Noi 366.438., dated July 12, 1887.

Application filed May 4, 1887. Serfil No. 237,115. (No model.) Patented in England November 4, IP86. No. 14,208, and in Belgian April 20, 1887, No. 77,145.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, BEAUGHAMP TOWER, a citizen of England, residing at 19 Great George Street, \Vestminsler, in the county of Middlesex, England, have invented a new and useful .taining in a floating vessel, subject to oscillations, a plane always parallel to some given plane, and therefore available'as'atiartificial horizon, or as a platform for guns, or for other purposes for which great steadiness is required.

I mount a framing in gimbals giving freedom of movement in two directions at right angles to each other. On this framing are fixed four vertical cylinders, fitted with pistons which are linked to arms of the gim: bals. Each of these cylinders has a passage for fluid leading to its upper part from a central place where these four passages present their mouths downward very near to each other. At the bottom of the framing is mounted on a spherical bearing a reaction-wheel capable of revolving on-a vertical axis which coincities with that .of the framing, and the central cavity of this wheel is supplied through a trunnion of the gimbals-with water or other fluid under pressure. From the central cav ity of the wheel there is a vertical passage to a nozzle, which presents itself just under the mouths of the four passages above mentioned.

While the fluid flows from the reactionwheel it causes it to revolve with considerable velocity, and consequently by its gyroscopic action to maintain constancyof attitude of its axis. Should the framing tend to deviate from its true axial attitude relatively to the reaction-wheel, the jet from the central nozzle enters with force into one or other of the four passages, and thus produces an increase .of pressure in the cylinder to which this passage leads, causing a movement of the plunger of this cylinder, and consequently of the framing, which rectifies the deviation.

right angles to each other.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a plan, and Figs. 2 and3 are vertical sections, I

respectively on the linesX X and Z Z of Fig. 1, of apparatus according to my invention. Fig. 4 shows diagrammatically how the apparatus may he applied in a floating vessel to maintain a platform level or at a constant inclination, so as to facilitate the service of a gun. I

A is the framing, conveniently made in the form of a cylindrical vessel, mounted by trunnions B C on bent arms D E, which are themtionary framing. Thus the vessel A is mounted in gimbals free to oscillate in two planes at A third bent arm, H, is jointed to one side of the vessel in the line of the axis of F G, and to a block, K,

which is free to slide horizontally in guides on" either side of the middle position, which isin the line of the axis of B and G. This arm,

having freedom for its block K to slide, does to the nozzle 0 in the line of the axis of the wheel L. To the vessel A are fixed the four hydraulic cylinders M, each fitted with a plunger. Two of these plungers are linked to the gimbal-arm D symmetrically on each side of the trunnion B. The other two are similarly linked to the arm H. From the upper parts of the cylinders M pipes m communicate through a head, N, each with an orifice, n, on the under side of. the head N immediately above the nozzle 0. While the reactionwvheel L is caused to revolve rapidly by the action of the water issuing from its lateral nozzles, its axis tends to remain permanent in position even when force is applied to alter it. As long as the axis of the vessel A remains coincident with the axis of L, the jet from 0 acts equally on the water in the four orifices n, pro

ducing equal pressure in the four cylinders M. Should the axis of A move a little out-of alignment with the axis of L, then one or other of the orifices n will receive more of the jet from 0 than the others, and the pressure in that one of the cylinders M with which that orifice communicates will be increased, causing its plunger to tend to move outward, and thus imposing a strain on the arm to which that plunger is linked. This excess of force on one of the gimbal-arms reacts on the vessel -A,- causing it to recover its normal position,

'bringing its axis into coincidence with the axis of the wheel L. Consequently,- aslongas the wheel L revolves, the axis of A is maintained in a permanent position. In applying this apparatus, as shown by Fig. 4, a framing, 1, of funnel shape, is mounted on board a ves' sel, Q, on a circular race, so that it'can be made to revolve by a pinion, q, gearing with teeth on the circumference of the race. vessel A is mounted by its gimbals within the framing P, and has its axis maintained permanentlyrvertieal, or more or. less inclined to the horizon, notwithstanding very violent oscillations of the vessel Q In some convenient part of the vessel a pumping-engine, R, serves to supply the'wheel L and jet 0, the discharged water returning from P by the suction-pipe S, and being forced back by the pipe T to supply the wheel and jet.

Although I have shown a reaction-wheel, L, as one of the simplest forms of machine by which water under pressure can be applied to produce rotary motion, obviously turbines or hydraulic engines of various forms might be substituted for it; also, althoughI have shown in Fig. 4 an application of apparatus according to my invention for facilitating the service 40 of a gun, it might obviously be applied in any case where permanence of a plane or its axis is desired, notwithstanding oscillations of the vessel or other structure i n which it is mounted,

mg axial nozzle, means-for supplying the wheel with fluid to rapidly revolve it, a series of cylinders, M, containing plungers connected with the gimbal-arms, and a head, N, located above the axial nozzle, and having a set of orifices, n, communicating with the cylinders, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my'name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witucsses, this 30th day of Mareh,-A. D. 1887.

BEAUCHAMP TOWER.

Witnesses:

HAROLD IMRAY,

Patent Agent, 28 Southampton Buildings, London, TV. '0.

-JNo. P. M. MILLARD,

Clerk to Messrs. Abel &; Imray, Consulting En yineers and Patent 'Agents, 28 Southampton Buildings, London, W 0. 

